If all your unspoken thoughts had been written down this year, what do you think the main theme or quality of these thoughts would be? Were most of your days in 2013 spent rejoicing and giving thanks for everything in your life? Did you start and end each day with a prayer of gratitude? Did you take the time to find at least one positive event in each of the 365 days? If not, why not?

The thoughts we think, backed by the emotional intensities of those thoughts are what propels us into the future. The truth is, we are creating our future in every moment based on the thoughts we are thinking. Yikes!

If you yearn to create positive change for 2014 I encourage you to learn how to re-frame your mind. There’s many simple, effective exercises you can do that will help you catch those negative thoughts before they take control.

1. Keep a complaint journal. Every time, and I do mean every time, you find yourself complaining, write it down! Write down the complaint, the time of day, where you are and who you are with at that moment. Then, write down something positive about that same situation. You’ll be surprised how many entries you have after one week. I did this many years ago and was shocked to see how much I complained without realizing it! I was more surprised a month or so later when I recognized I had stopped complaining! I felt better. I was happier. I smiled more. And all I did was adjust my attitude!

What’s the significance of writing down the people you’re with when logging the complaints? This is an interesting part of the exercise to learn how other people may effect your mood and thoughts. It’s called ‘matching energy’. When you’re with people who complain or have a negative attitude you may find yourself acting the same way. And do you think these people want you to start being more positive? Heck no! You’ll ruin their joy! Some people actually enjoy being negative. And some people may not want you to be happy. I know a person who is enjoying a new romantic relationship after being single for many years. I watched her slowly make separations from the negative people in her life. She focused on herself. She set personal goals and met them; she lost weight, she started working out with a personal trainer, she got her finances grounded. She spent time with people who supported her in a positive way. She used hypnosis and meditation tools to work on her inner self. She’s happy. And – she stopped complaining!

2. Are you still looking in the past and playing the victim game? If yes then stop! Stop doing that right now! All you’re doing is making excuses for why you can’t be successful today. I recently heard of someone in their thirties complaining that she’s not a professional right now because of a living/work situation she was in during her teen-age years. This is called being stuck on a picture. Please don’t misunderstand me. I know many people have experienced horrible things and I’m not speaking lightly of past-time pain. But you have a choice. You can learn tools to help set you free from the victim role. You can re-frame your mind and practice positive thinking. You can let go of the painful past by admitting the hurt and resentment, then practice letting it go. You deserve so much more!

3. Write your own prescription for happiness. This may sound trite, but it’s surprisingly effective. Dedicate some quiet time for yourself. When you feel ready, create a list of things you’d really love to do. This isn’t a bucket list. These are things you’ve been thinking about for a long time that you believe can never happen or wonder how will it all work out? Don’t worry about the steps it’ll take to get there, start by writing them down! I worked with a client last year who had been unhappy for quite some time. He felt like he was stuck in a rut. He had a job but he realized it was just to pay his bills, he wasn’t happy going to work each day. Our first task was focused on re-framing his mind with work. He was able to find gratitude that he had a job and didn’t have to worry about finances. When I asked him what he’d love to do if there was nothing blocking him he started to smile. Then he started to talk. And talk. And talk. He wanted to be a spiritual teacher. During hypnosis I guided his subconscious to show him ways he could turn his passion into reality. Several months later he was offering free lectures. The free lectures blossomed into paid classes. He’s still working at his other job, but he’s found joy and passion by activating his personal prescription for happiness.

2014 is almost here. You have 365 clean sheets of paper waiting for you to express your thoughts, your intentions and goals. You can create whatever you choose, it’s only a thought away!

“Once someone asked me if I knew where God was. Yes, I replied, He’s in your ATTITUDE and when you ask Him, He will heal it!” – Rev. Wm. H. Duby